Pick of the Day: 1983 Porsche 911 SC Cabrio, still an enticing bargain

These one-year-only convertibles remain affordable despite rarity, great drivability

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The 1983 911SC Cabrio is a singular model from Porsche

One of my all-time favorite Porsches is the 911SC Cabrio. These cars were only built in 1983 and represented the first full convertible Porsche since the 356SC. Only 4,214 of these cars were sold worldwide, making them one of the rarer G-body 911s, the code for the long-running series built from 1973 through 1989.

Despite its relative rarity, especially when compared with the production numbers of other 911SC body styles, the ’83 911SC Cabrio is one of the most-affordable G-body cars available. Having driven a number of these Porsches, I don’t understand their lower values as they have all the elements that add to a collector car’s worth, including rarity, being featured in period films and being the first example of its kind.

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The Pick of the Day is one of these great cars, a 1983 Porsche 911 SC Cabrio finished in Grand Prix White over a black-leather interior.

The Porsche is equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission, air conditioning. power windows, soft top, boot, 4-wheel disc brakes, Fuchs wheels and tool kit, according to the Beverly Hills, California, advertising the Cabrio on ClassicCars.com. The pictures with the ad of the underside and just about every other detail show what appears to be a nice driver-condition 911SC Cabrio. Not perfect but still a good example.

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I have written about these one-year-only 911s in the past and I continue to be quite bullish about them. They are simply undervalued when compared with other air-cooled 911s. it makes no sense to me but for a buyer, it is a terrific opportunity.

What the convertible does in an air-cooled Porsche 911 is make the car seem even more like a race car. The iconic flat-6 engine sound is right behind you with nothing to interfere with hearing it. The openness of the car adds to the racecar feel.

You can get a G-body 911 convertible in the 84-89 Carrera, but the 1983 911SC was the first time it was offered. When you combine that with the legendary reliability of the SC engine and the exceptional build quality of these final SC cars, you end up with something extra special.

While the Porsche SC does not have the G50 gearbox featured in the later 3.2-liter Carrera cars, instead equipped with the lesser 915 transmission, I prefer the 915 gearbox because it has a feel that to me is so iconically Porsche. You also get a manual top, unavailable in the 84-89 cars, that is easy to raise and lower, and the car weighs less than the 84-89 Carreras. Finally, you get the end of the run of some of the finest cars Porsche ever built.

The asking price for this Porsche 911 is a market-correct $38,500.

To view this vehicle on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day

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Andy Reid
Andy Reid's first car, purchased at age 15, was a 1968 Fiat 124 coupe. His second, obtained by spending his college savings fund, was a 1966 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2. Since then, he has owned more than 150 cars—none of them normal or reasonable—as well as numerous classic motorcycles and scooters. A veteran of film, television, advertising and helping to launch a few Internet-based companies, Reid was a columnist for Classic Motorsports magazine for 12 years and has written for several other publications. He is considered an expert in European sports and luxury cars and is a respected concours judge. He lives in Canton, Connecticut.

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